THE COLONIST Published Daily.—Mornings. Nelson, Saturday, May 25, 1895. IMPROVEMENT PROPOSALS.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8257, 25 May 1895, Page 2

THE COLONIST Published Daily. — Mornings. Nelson, Saturday, May 25, 1895. IMPROVEMENT PROPOSALS.

It is to be regretted that the tendency of the time is rather to search for flaws, and to pull down rather than to build up, and although there might be slight difficulty in assigning a cause for this state of affairs, there is little to be gained from going into that question, as we have, in some cases at least, to accept things as we find them. Beyond question the man who seeks to effect improvements which he conceives will add to the comfort and material welfare of his neighbors, merits gratitude, even though it should happen that his projects have been designed while in an over hopeful frame of mind, for proposals so designed may, after cautious criticism and examination, be so improved upon that all but the most timid may become convinced of the necessity of taking action in the direction of effecting improvements that can scarcely fail to be advantageous. If, indeed, the people affected would apply but the one test — seek to determine whether any proposal was practically "certain to be beneficial to the majority, leaving smaller considerations out of account, the prospects of advancement would, unquestionably, be multiplied. His Worship the Mayor, Mr F. Trask, has lately propounded a scheme for the improvement of the city, and he deserves credit for having done so. In so many words he has indicated that his proposals are rather with a desire to start a current of thought in the direction of preparing to build up and make the utmost use of the talents entrusted to us than with a wish to see his own projects carried out. This is as it should be, but it must be admitted that many and serious difficulties have to be overcome beiore any forward movement can, with confidence of success, be entered upon. There are financial obstacles to be contended with, and there is a danger that the most well-intentioned designs may not be planned with sufficient skill to ensure success, or that they may be marred in execution owing to insufficient care in oversight. Taking the first test — Are the proposals practically certain to benefit the majority of the people ? it cannot be questioned that a perfect sanitary condition would be worth almost any conceivable sacrifice, for health must be considered before all else. Then, healthhaving been protected, the rational pleasure and comfort of citizens may well be studied, even though the cost should be considerable. It does not follow, however, that well-intentioned efforts to achieve these two ends will necessarily prove entirely successful, and assurances are requisite that the ends aimed at will be attained. But even though such assurances were forthcoming, financial difficulties might prevent the accomplishment of good work. Mr Track proposes that £25,000 should be borrowed and expended upon works of improvement, conceiving that such works would so largely benefit the oity that with the larger population secured by way of return for the outlay, individual burdens would be no larger than at present. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee whatever that the pictured result would b 3 realised. A similar argument has been nsed before, and if, on the completion of the Bocks road, a more prosperous condition is experienced there will be come solid ground for hopeful anticipations. At the present time the affairs of the city do not appear to be largely improving, notwithstanding that much money has been spent daring the last few years. For instance, we find that on the 23rd May, 1890, the General Account of the Oity was overdrawn to the extent of £2801, the net overdraft being £289 On the 22ad May, 1891, the General Account was in debit £2420, the net debit being £198. A year later the Geneial Account was overdrawn

£2278, and the not overdraft was £167, while on the 19fcb May, 1893, thk indebtedness of.the General Account ha 3 grown to £2757 i a khoagli the o her aeootiuts reduoed the balance to £81. A year ago the General fnnd of the City wan overdrawa £31 20, th net ov rdraft beiog £1405, aad Ual Friday the indebtedness of ihe Geueral Aoooont was no less than £8668, atd the net overdraft Was aboot ten times ac large as in May 1890. Any physic certain to core tbia fctate of things and bring further bleßßinge wonid assuredly b? acceptable, but th nigh a bitter pill might not be objented to, a daogtrous drag mo>t be tsoh.wtd. The proposed loan will meau an ad <i ion >o oar rat'Je of $d in the potmd oo the pres nt b isis, and the population, or rath; r the value oi property, must beo.me nenriy half •as large again if the people are to bear no additional burden. If Ihero wore a reasonable prospect of securing such an addition ia three or four years, few would object to the sacrifice, but we fear tha; too hopeful a view has bean taken; The enbJHti however, is an important one, aud we propose to revert to it on a fature oocasioj.